ATLANTA — He had a chance to be a hero.
With 33 seconds left and a chance to win the game, Tim Boyle, the Detroit Lions‘ backup quarterback, forced a ball toward the end zone.
But it was intercepted.
End of the game.
So the Lions lost. No real surprise.
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And if you are only worried about draft positioning, then I’m sure you are thrilled.
So be it.
But I’ll take something else from this game. How the Lions kept fighting, kept making plays — sometimes, with the backups of backups — getting close to a stunning comeback, even though they were missing several starters because of injury and COVID-19.
So that’s a positive.
But there was something else: I’ll remember how the Lions used all kinds of creativity, just to keep this close.
The Lions played without Jared Goff, their quarterback in COVID-19 protocol. And they were missing D’Andre Swift, the team’s leading rusher, who has been out with a shoulder injury. Swift returned to practice this week but couldn’t play Sunday.
Lacking several weapons — not to mention a whole bunch of offensive punch — Lions coach Dan Campbell tried just about everything to generate some offense, including going for it on fourth down four times.
And it worked three times.
It’s like he looked down his roster — with all its different skill sets — and used everything he had.
Wringing everything he could out of this team.
He tried a wide receiver counter — twice.
He tried a wide receiver reverse — once.
Just about the only thing he hadn’t tried was a pass from his punter.
But wait … He tried that, too.
Maybe all of that creativity came out of necessity.
They just don’t have that many playmakers.
But it sure made it interesting.
And it makes you think this team is only going to get better, in the future, when they get their starters back.
A full bag of tricks
The Falcons came into the game with a 6-8 record and a chance to make the playoffs (if they won out and got some help).
So they had something to play for.
The Lions did not.
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With Goff out, Boyle made his second career start; the Lions tried to get him into rhythm quickly, throwing on their first four plays.
Boyle came out hot, looking comfortable and poised, decisive and accurate, completing his first six passes, driving the Lions downfield. There appeared to be only one hiccup on the Lions first drive, when he missed Josh Reynolds in the end zone. Either the ball got away from him, or there was a misread.
And when you lose a game by four points, those small moments get huge.
Wisely, Campbell did everything he could to get the ball to Amon-Ra St. Brown, who caught nine passes for 91 yards.
And he had two carries.
Twice, Campbell dialed up counters to St. Brown, sneaking along the line of scrimmage and darting for nice runs.
You want some more creativity?
How about having a punter throw a critical pass?
Yes, it was that kind of game.
But again, it came out of necessity.
On fourth-and-1 from the Falcons’ 40, with about 5½ minutes left in the first half, they had a false start by Jonah Jackson.
Which seemed as if it was going to kill the drive and force a punt.
In theory.
But Campbell went for a trick play.
Punter Jack Fox threw a perfect pass to KhaDarel Hodge for 24 yards, and it worked because it was so surprising.
Then, they turned that trick play into a touchdown, when Boyle hit hit St. Brown.
Mr. Everything.
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Defense in on it, too
The Lions’ defense showed its own creativity.
Once again, safety Will Harris played corner.
Give defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn all kinds of credit.
A week after beating Arizona, he had this defense playing well again.
Guys were making plays all over the field.
They sacked the Falcons three times on the first six plays?
Amazing.
And Glenn had his defense playing well at the end.
Let me set the scene. The Falcons had a 20-16 lead with about 2½ minutes to play.
All the Falcons needed was a first down.
All the Lions needed was a stop.
But they got so much more.
In came Jalen Reeves-Maybin. He swung his arm and punched the ball loose from Atlanta’s Russell Gage.
Dean Marlowe recovered it, and suddenly, the Lions had life again.
But then, Boyle threw that pick.
And the game disappeared.
But the Lions can take something from this game.
You can feel them getting closer.
You can see these backups playing well. Playing good football.
That’s encouraging.
And yes, for those who are only concerned about draft picks, you got your loss.
Merry Christmas.
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Contact Jeff Seidel: jseidel@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @seideljeff. To read his recent columns, go to freep.com/sports/jeff-seidel/.